Using Techology in Program Assessment

I often get asked about the use of technology in program assessment.  In the mid-90's I was involved in the development of an electronic portfolio system that was used for students to document their work related to the performance indicators (see previous posting) and for faculty to rate student performance using scoring rubrics.  It was also used to map the curriculum and generate reports.  It was a huge investment in human and capital resources as this was before there were commercial products available.  However, I remain very proud of the effort and the results.

Since that time there have been numerous commercial products developed to manage the outcomes assessment process.  Is it necessary to buy commercial tools to have a robust outcomes assessment process?  Absolutely not!  Can technology solutions be helpful in managing the process and tracking the results?  Absolutely.

There are lots of considerations when considering a technology solution to the outcomes assessment process.  The first thing is to be very clear about what a system can and cannot do.  It CANNOT do your program assessment and evaluation for you!  The institution or program must first define the intended outcomes and performance indicators.  Without a doubt, that is the most difficult part of the process.  Once the indicators have been defined you need to be clear about the role of students and faculty in the use of the techology.  Also, who is the technology "owner"--who will maintain it, keep the outcomes/indicators current, generate reports, etc. etc.

Get references!  Talk to other institutions/programs to see what their experience has been using the technology.  Don't just listen to the company sales people.  Ask yourself, "What are we currently doing or not doing that the use of technology would make it more efficient or effective?"  Use that as a starting point. 

For your convenience, here is a list of SOME of the commercial tools available as a way to get started in your search. I have included two commonly used survey tools as well.
Technology for Program Assessment